Seoul floods: 'Parasite-style' flats to be banned after deaths

South Korea's capital Seoul will move to phase out semi-basement flats after two women and a teenager died during flooding earlier this week

The tiny flats, featured in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, are usually rented out to people on low incomes, Qazet.az reports.

Seoul will no longer give out permits to construct such homes from this week on and will gradually convert existing apartments, officials said.

This comes after the city was hit by the heaviest rains in 80 years.

As of Wednesday, at least 11 people were confirmed dead or missing as a result of the floods, which have gone on for three days.

On Monday night, two sisters in their 40s and a 13-year-old girl were found dead in their flooded semi-basement flat.

They had reportedly sought help as their home filled with water, but rescuers were unable to reach them.

The tragedy has renewed attention on income inequality and the dangers of living in the semi-underground flats - or banjiha - which are known for cheap rents and poor living conditions.